With the first round of the two-day competition coming to a close on the weekend just been it’s time to take a look at all the action that went down with a few notable surprise results. It was a jam packed weekend results-wise to say the least.

To carry on from last week’s updates we’ll keep the same order of games starting off with the Major Premiership. Parnell were taking on University, Parnell batting first made 199/9dec with University finishing the day on 20/1. Parnell would’ve been hoping to come back on the second day and take a few early scalps to put them in a good position to get the first innings points, and that they did. Bowling University out just 7 runs short of a 1st innings win at 193. It was a team effort from the Parnell bowling attack with each bowler picking up a couple of wickets.

Papatoetoe were coming in to day 2 needing a further 70 odd runs with 5 wickets in hand, all but first innings seemed to be lost early on as the batting side slumped to 120/8 still needing 48 for the 1st innings win. Until young star Luke Istead came to the crease scoring a rapid fire 33 of nearly as many deliveries before being dismissed with Papatoetoe level with Takapuna’s score on 168. The batting side still would have felt alright only needing 1 run to get the 1st innings points. But the number 11 was dismissed straight away for the 1st Innings to be tied with 168 scored by both teams. Taka went in to bat again setting Papatoetoe 144 for the outright win, Ollie Pringle the pick of the bowlers second time round picking up 5/35. It was a very even chase with Papatoetoe scoring very quickly but also losing wickets at crucial times along the way, again Luke Istead came out and smacked the bowlers around the park scoring 36 off half as many balls. It was getting very tight towards the end before former captain Stuart Money came to the crease hitting 2 maximums along the way to a quick fire 26 not out helping Papatoetoe get the outright win 7 wickets down with an over to spare.

Suburbs New Lynn were hoping to come back on day 2 to set up a big score and get the outright win while Howick Pakuranga would have been hoping to do something semi productive. Suburbs finished day 1 on 85/4 needing about 60 for the 1st innings points, they went on to score 251 with James Parslow and Reece Young both notching up half centuries. Howick Pak were back into bat and their poor form of this season seemed to continue being rolled for 75 giving Suburbs the outright win by an innings and 31 runs.

On the first day of the battle of the North Shore, Birkenhead managed to secure 1st Innings points going past East Coast Bays’ score of 112, declaring on 187/8. ECB were back into bat on day 2, they managed to get to 167 with Ryan Evans picking up a 6 wicket bag, this left Birkenhead a rather comfortable 93 required of 26 overs. Although it was no walk in the park they still managed to get the outright win just narrowly though only getting the target 8 wickets down.

To the Minor Premiership now, Cornwall posted that massive score on day 1 of 329/6 declared. Grafton surely would have wanted to take as long as possible if not all day to chase down that score. Cornwall had other ideas bowling the Grafton side out for 220 with Daniel Peris falling 2 runs short of a century and Aces bowler Matt Quinn picking up 3 wickets for Cornwall.

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In the game of the two west Auckland sides Eden Roskill finished day 1 on a rather rough 39/5 needing another 160 to meet Waitakere’s first innings score and pick up the points. They could only manage 124 before being bowled out with E Hunt picking up 4 wickets.

In the last game which was a cracker, North Shore rather easily picked up 1st innings on day one scoring only 114 before bowling Ellerslie out for 61. North Shore were straight back into bat finishing day 1 on 25/3. As day 2 started Aces quick bowler Dean Bartlett picked up a very handy 5/27 in helping his side to bowl North Shore out just 92. This left Ellerslie needing 148 for the reverse outright win. And what a chase it was, Ellerslie were cruising along before losing 4 wickets for 4 runs in what was set to be cracking finish to the game. Ellerslie though ended up getting there 6 wickets down with Simon Lambert scoring 47.

Points Tables

Major Championship

The Fox Suburbs New Lynn 18.51

Harcourts Birkenhead City 17.80

Papatoetoe 14.86

Parnell 11.17

Takapuna 10.35

ILG East Coast Bays 6.79

Howick Pakuranga 4.70

Auckland University 4.18

Minor Championship

New Balance Waitakere City 13.53

Cornwall 13.45

North Shore 12.06

Ellerslie 11.09

Eden Roskill 7.68

New World Grafton United 4.70